Solve for Happy

fantastic narrative of a complex subject made easy

Loved it!! I foresee this becoming as renowned as "the power of now" but much easier to listen to and understand. fantastic metaphysical book told through a very personal story and logic.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Excellent...up until the last chapter

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Delete the chapter on God. When I first started listening to this book I thought it was fascinating, insightful and endearing. Mo's story and his logical approach to finding the solution to his happiness was convincing and I was totally sold...Until I read his chapter on God. Out of the window went the logic, reason and insight and in came a set of arguments that were so misinformed it made me angry. it was like I was listening to an audio tour at a creation museum.I was so disappointed that someone who's ideas and arguments seemed so intelligent and persuading throughout the rest of the book resorted to the weak and uninformed arguments of a young earth believer.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

His approach to thinking about what really matters was inspiring, his opinions on a higher power were not.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes, the narration and passion was felt throughout.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

One Of The Best - No, Actually THE Best

Where does Solve for Happy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This will become a classic. It's easy to listen to, intelligent, fresh, and most of all very personal and touching. I will listen to this over and over, as there is so much in it.

What did you like best about this story?

The intelligence, the new perspectives and the enlightenment flowing from it. I've read literally hundreds of this type of book. From now on, this is the only one I'll recommend to others.

Which character – as performed by Mo Gawdat – was your favourite?

na

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Lots of moving moments, but the mathematical analysis of randomness in evolution was (for me) something that changed everything for me.

Any additional comments?

Thanks, Mo, for putting this into words. It was an honour to hear it in your own voice.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Little bit disappointed..

This book has some interesting concepts in it. I enjoyed listening to the author and I respect that he has found an equation that works for him. However for me there were too many places in this book that contradict. I would forgive these contradictions if the book didn't start from a science and maths approach and then try to prove god and afterlife by an initial distortion of a scientific theory and then layering on maths to develop the distortion. For instance the book’s “many random events that created the universe” against “an intelligent designer”. I'd don't think anyone would view evolution or the universe as random, there are forces/rules/laws guiding it...just not an “intelligently” aware being... I understand why he has built this mental model to help him be happy and some of what he wrote will help me be happier. I am grateful having listened to the book and thank him for writing it. However, the solution he came to for dealing with afterlife won’t work for me and I’ll keep on searching.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Extremely disappointed by ending.

This book was fantastic until religion was unnecessarily brought into it. I felt like i truly found a helpful no nonsense self help book but by the end i felt like the author was trying to convert me rather than help me. Absolutely ruined the book for me.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Wonderful

Any additional comments?

This book is touching and contains very practical advise. Many of the ideas are in the vein of Eckhart Tolle but explored from an engineering point of view. This is truly illuminating. I was already a little happier before I'd even gotten half way through.
The reason I'm not giving it the full 5 stars is because of the descent towards the end into some brazenly fallacious arguments around intelligent design. This was dispiriting as I knew all the common rebuttals to these and it began to seem like he was selling rather giving. However this does not negate brilliance of what came before. It has actually prepared me to be more skeptical on a the second listen. Which I'll probably do right away.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

A sweet but flawed book

There are some sweet ideas and nice thoughts in this book but it's not quite the marriage of science and spirituality it first seems. I feel like I got done value from this book because it made me think about things regarding conditional happiness and choosing not to suffer. Many of the ideas were nice but not backed up by data. The author says he makes uncertain choices based on the ones which make him happy. Fair enough but wishing things so does not mean they are correct. Mo's argument for intelligent design is essentially a version of the watchmaker argument mixed with teleological argument as improbability argument for a creator. Those arguments have all been thoroughly debunked and it was disappointing to see them being reformatted and peddled out as if to prove that probabilities favour intelligent design. Spoiler alert; they don't.
The book is nice and the author seems like a lovely guy. I'm glad I read it but there's a lot I take issue with.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Life changing!

I was recommended this book by a client of mine and I am so grateful for the recommendation. This story is so powerful and Mo’s views on life and death have been simply life changing for me. I’ve always had an agnostic outlook but Mo’s views on whether we are just here as a chance event or by design have really resonated with me. I’ve listened to the various beliefs and religions, but nothing has struck a chord with me like this book has.

I am so grateful for Mo presenting his thoughts and beliefs in such a clear way for others to benefit. He’s had to experience a hugely challenging situation and to turn that whole situation into something for the huge benefit of others is just amazing.

Thank you for this book Mo.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wholeheartedly recommended reading.

As part of an holistic approach to better mental and physical health of nations, this book should be made available on prescription, enabling those suffering who present to their medical practitioners - and a host of other mainstream therapeutic portals - first line access to this fountain of wisdom. Invaluable health education for all ages and stages of life. A pivotal step on the path to recovery, a healthier mind, life and the lives of others affected. Excellent... you'll read it again and again. Thankyou sincerely.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not insightful, not useful

Ditched 20% of the way through. Some good ideas near the start - like writing a list of things that make you happy - but then the book veers into lists of theories based on whim and an interminable succession of platitudes. Neither insightful nor useful.